The winter doldrums are here in town
They've sublet my mind
They've purchased stock in my affairs
Are inquiring about my time
It seems so long since the sun's really shined
Though today I caught a ray
It walked with me for an hour or so and then it went on it's way
Left me feeling like February
Like I just don't measure up
Then I'm thrown some hope every now and again to keep me from giving up
The winter doldrums were just passing through
They liked my company
So they settled down, pay no rent, are raising a family
It seems so long since I felt life in the air
Though today I caught a breath and it ran through me for an hour or so
Then it just up and left me feeling like February
Like I just don't measure up
Then I'm thrown some hope every now and again to keep me from giving
Oh, I hope the spring is coming soon
Can almost smell the flowers in bloom
When the late evening sun will hang around to see, the laughter, the Lovers and me
Copyright © 1997/2019: albinosongs
The MUSICIANS
Albino Guimaraes Vocals & Guitars
Joe Boyle Electric Guitars
Joe O’Brien Bass Guitar
Jon Peckman Drums & Percussion
Sophie Guimaraes Vocals
Behind The Song...
Feeling Like February
In the Northeast of the USA, February has a terrible placement on the calendar... when it come to the weather. February is right in the middle of the coldest bit, just after the final glow of the holidays and New Year’s Eve embers have extinguished. Some may counter, “February has Valentine’s Day”, but that is hit or mostly miss is it not?
Then there is the number of days February contains. Why is it so much less than all the others? Did Mom not love it as much? Yet, it is given this one extra day every four years. This extra day brings it ever so close to September, April, June and November. This extra day brings February hope. Hope is essential. February is essential.
Thinking about February in this symbolic manner raises in my mind February’s relationship to Black History Month. The origins of the month can be traced back to Fredrick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln’s birthdays, but if these birthdays fell in January or March, would Black History Month have been established in one of these full-sized months? Two things are clear: one, the African-American contribution to the culture of America is a major part of our fabric. Two, racism certainly exists. And given racism exists, February would be the symbolic month a racist would likely choose for Black History Month as it is the “lesser” month. Turning that all on it’s head, February is the month of Hope and from my outsiders view that is a beautiful and poignant turn, not unlike reclaiming a hateful word and making it your own.